Vibrant Leather Explosion by Zara

It’s a brutal flanker of Vibrant Leather. It starts with that classic smoky Aventus touch, but soon transforms into something caramelised, reminiscent of Baccarat Rouge. It’s not a clone; it has its own identity and excellent aromatic quality that makes you think of luxury perfumes. Performance is moderate, not the ‘longest-lasting’ one from Zara as some claim, but it’s 100% masculine, charming, and exquisite for any season or occasion.

Undoubtedly one of the best from Zara. If you like sweet perfumes with citrus hints, this is excellent. It lasts and projects like few others, simply 10/10.

It all starts with Vibrant Leather, that basic Aventus clone from Zara, now joined by Explosion with a sweet-woody DNA similar to Baccarat Rouge. The citrus opening recalls the original but disappears quickly, giving way to a warm, synthetic facet that comes in addictive waves. Nothing aims to be natural, and that’s part of its rogue charm. Performance is very ‘Zara’: 3-4 hours before needing a reapplication, but without regrets as it costs less than a gin and tonic. Projection is correct; it doesn’t aim to dominate, which is a relief in summer. Quality doesn’t compete with the originals, but the price-to-quality ratio is another story. It’s not an explosion, but it smells better than others costing triple the price, something the industry should consider when copying DNA without inventing anything.

Excellent perfume, mixing that reminiscence of Vibrant Leather with sweet touches from Red Temptation that make it unique. I’ve loved it and it has excellent performance. I’ll leave a top note if anyone wants to check it out.

I swapped it for The Icon Parfum, which I wasn’t using. A great decision. I sense that low cotton candy sweet note, but I perceive much of the green nuance of bamboo and violet leaves. The opening is very citrusy, close to the heart of an unripe pineapple, sharp but pleasant. Then it sweetens, entering the green and fresh part, almost like freshly cut grass but rich. It lasts 5-6 hours, projecting for an hour or more. Total delight, and I believe they no longer sell it in my city.

Smells like synthetic pineapple and pool chlorine. By an hour it’s skin scent, and by three it’s gone. If you wear it, you’ll have to reapply constantly, and the synthetic note becomes more obvious. Better to go for the original Zara OVL. At €22 it’s not bad, but it’s not worth it. It’s a poor copy of Aventus. Don’t buy blindly; test it on skin and wait an hour before deciding.

Let’s not deceive ourselves; this is among the best in its price range. It smells fresh, aromatic, and is very versatile. Longevity and projection are acceptable. Sometimes it’s criticised for being from Zara, but ignoring the purists, in the low-cost sector, there’s no one who wouldn’t like it. It’s a perfume above the current average.

Finally something interesting in Zara’s pop perfumery, alongside Vibrant Leather Oud. For barely €20 for 100ml. I present the new Vibrant Leather Explosion; amongst us, the ‘little red one’. Why complicate things with a master perfumer when we already have the catalogue? They take the usual VL, which is a watery substitute for Creed Aventus (lasts less than joy in a Palestinian home compared to other dupes), and mix it with Zara For Him Red, our low-cost Baccarat Rouge. Voilà! Smells very good. Unisex? The original already was; this doesn’t smell more macho, even my grandmother could wear it. Lasts longer than the normal VL. As my Argentine neighbour says: ‘you smell rich, exquisite, spectacular perfume, crazy’. For what it’s worth, it’s brilliant. A big hug, mate Amancio!

A marvel; smells like Vibrant Leather with steroids and leaves the memory of Baccarat Rouge or Zara’s Red Temptation. It’s a 10/10 for its price and performance. It’s the longest-lasting one I have. For those whose fragrance doesn’t last, check your pH, because if it lasts, it really lasts.

A great success for Zara. It doesn’t hook me with the Baccarat Rouge DNA because it’s too sweet, but here they’ve balanced it perfectly so it doesn’t sound like a cocktail of notes, but rather uniform. It’s a perfect blend of Aventus and Baccarat: a citrus and woody opening with a sweet smoky touch that lingers on the skin. Lasts several hours, but after 3 hours it’s only a skin scent and needs reapplication. A good unisex hybrid, more masculine. Scent: 7.5/10, Longevity: 7/10, Projection: 6.5/10. Recommended.

Zara offers cheap Aventus dupes and I’m not going to criticise that. I like to collect and I appreciate that sometimes they add their own touch to differentiate from the original, as the quality of these clones is often inferior. The scent is very pleasant, perfect for summer.

Another disappointment from Zara, and here’s why: as a scent, it’s not bad, it’s basically the Aventura DNA at 75%, but it lacks that charm found, for example, in CDNI. The main issue is the performance: although it lasts a long time (easily eight hours), the projection is extremely low. So it might serve if you want it for intimate use and your own enjoyment, but if you’re looking for people to smell it, this isn’t the perfume.

I was eager to try this blend of two DNA profiles I love. I tested it yesterday and it’s exactly as you imagine: Vibrant Leather + Red Temptation. If you already have either, you’ll feel as if you have the original, as it starts with the full aroma of the VL and then the sweetness of Red Temptation comes through. I found it very pleasant and versatile; in fact, I bought it because I no longer have either of the two. I see it more for informal outings than for everyday wear like the VL. What convinced me was the performance: it lasts quite a few hours without needing to bring the nose close, something that doesn’t happen with almost anything from Zara. Well done, finally a perfume that smells effortlessly after 2 hours. Try it if you like blended DNA profiles, but if you already have one or both, it’s redundant. Versatile in climates, except in extreme heat where the sweet notes can be oppressive.

More scents with a Baccarat DNA; uniqueness and identity are lost when wearing a perfume. We fall into the so-called NPC trap. A brand that, by the way, only offers dupes and more dupes, with no performance and zero longevity. Trash, just like its clothes.

I’ve been thinking about it, and while there’s a sweet undertone, what really stands out is that vibrant leather note with excellent performance. After wearing it a couple more times, I can clearly detect that ‘red’ nuance in the dry-down. The performance is brutal: whereas the original lasted an hour before fading, this one hits six and a half hours, which is a marvel and better than I expected. Among the Zara tests, this and Red for Him Intense are the winners.